Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints


Endowment House

Kirtland Temple

Far West Temple

Site dedicated but temple not constructed
Far West Temple

© Scott C. Sorensen. All rights reserved.

Location

NW State Hwy D
Kingston, Missouri  64650
United States

Groundbreaking: 

3 July 1837

Announcement: 

26 April 1838

Site Dedication: 

4 July 1838 by Brigham Young

Temple Locale

The Far West Temple site is located in Caldwell County, approximately 50 miles northeast of Kansas City. The property is maintained as a historic site by the Church, featuring attractive landscaping and a large monument that highlights Far West history. The aged cornerstones, laid for the temple in 1838, are beautifully preserved and displayed under protective glass. Visitors are welcome to come here and experience the brief but rich history of the Saints in Far West.


Temple Facts

The Far West Temple was the second temple commenced but never constructed by the early Saints in Missouri.

The Far West Temple site is located in Caldwell County, which was created specifically as a settlement for the Saints, who had been driven out of Jackson County several years earlier in 1833. Far West was the county seat.

Far West was founded by the Saints in August 1836. In anticipation of building a temple in Far West, a large public square was laid off in the center of town resembling Joseph Smith's plan for the City of Zion, which was to be built in Independence.

Excavation for the foundation of the Far West Temple, measuring 80 by 120 feet, was accomplished by more than 500 men in half a day on July 3, 1837.

Far West was headquarters for the Church from the time that the Prophet Joseph Smith arrived on March 14, 1838, until the expulsion of the Saints in the spring of 1839.

On April 26, 1838, Joseph Smith received a revelation from the Lord accepting Far West and commanding that a temple be built.

The cornerstones were laid for the Far West Temple on July 4, 1838, in the following order: southeast by the stake presidency, southwest by the elders quorum presidency, northwest by the bishop, and northeast by the teachers quorum presidency.

At the cornerstone laying for the Far West Temple, President Sidney Rigdon gave his famous Independence Day oration. The speech's passionate declarations fueled tension between the Saints and the citizens of Missouri, eventually culminating in the issuance of Governor Lilburn W. Boggs' extermination order on October 27, 1838.

Despite the great risk of danger, five apostles—accompanied by several others—returned to the Far West Temple site just after midnight on the morning of April 26, 1839, in fulfillment of prophecy. A large stone was rolled on the southeast cornerstone as recommencement of work on the foundation, and the apostles left to prepare for their overseas missions.

John Whitmer, one of the Eight Witnesses of the golden plates, was the only resident of Far West for many years after the Saints left. Among his land holdings was the Far West Temple site.

The Far West Temple site was reacquired by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1909 under the direction of Joseph F. Smith.

In 1968, the Church beautified the Far West Temple site and erected a monument, making it an attractive historic site for visitors.


Temple Monument

Following is a copy of the text inscribed on the beautiful three-paneled monument that stands at the Far West Temple site:


FAR WEST
A CONSECRATED
AND HOLY LAND